Automatic street signaling system



Sept. 17, 1929. HgARRETT 1,728,602

AUTOMATIC STREET SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet lSept. 17, 1929. H. GARRETT AUTOMATIC STREET SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb.16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 17, 1929. H. GARRETT AUTOMATIC STREETSIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1925 4 SheeS-Sheet 5 Sept: 17, 1929. H.GARRETT AUTOMATIC STREET SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 16, 1925 4Sheets-Sheet IN1/EN ok.

7 ma BY A 0R YS.

l: il /74 Patented Sept. 17, 19,29

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY GARRETT, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR,BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- 1 MENTS, OF ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLES F, MAULENAND ONE-THIRD T0 JOHN M.

SPELLMAN, BOTH 0F DALLAS, TEXAS AUTOMATIC STREET SIGNALING SYSTEMApplication led February 16, 1925. -Serial No. 9,625.

This invention relates to traiic signals and showing the automaticarrangements and has special reference to an improved tralic Ythe firealarm control.

signaling and fire alarm system and the apparatus therewith used.

One important object of the invention 1s to improve the generalconstruction of s s- .tems of this character so that both audi le andvisual signals may be given to trailic moving over streets or highways.n

A second important object of the invention is to provide a system ofthis character having novel circuit arrangements for the controlling oftraiiic and pedestrians at street crossings and intersections.

f A third important object of the, invention is to provide a system ofthis character whereby 'the same circuit ordinarily used for tratccontrol may. also be used for fire alarm controls so that the streetsmay be kept clear for the passage of the fire apparatus, the circuitarrangement being of novel land improved character.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafterapparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and:

Figure lis a planvview of the general layout of a system of thischaracter showing r various means for suspending or supporting thesignaling apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a signal post adapted for use inconnection with this system.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a signal intended to be suspended fromoverhead wires.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through such la signal. 5

Figure 5 is a View of a special double clapper bell preferably usedherewith.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing the various connections and layoutof several signals diagrammatically, the view also Figure `7 is a planview of the preferred apparatus for fire alarm apparatus.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of such preferred apparatus, certain partsbeing omitted.

Figure 9 is a rear View of an end of a certain escapement lever used inconnection with the apparatus shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing certain circuit closing wheels as usedherewith.

In Figure 1 there is disclosed a diagrammatic showing of intersectingstreets, four intersections being shown to illustrate different methodsof displaying the signals. These intersections are markedrespectively A,B. C, and D. At A-it will be Seen that the signal S is suspended from apair of crossed wires 10 carried by suitable supports 11 at the cornersof street intersections, four of these supports or posts being used. AtB there is d1sclosed an arrangement wherein three meeting wires 12support signal S from three posts 13. The signal'S at C is su ported onan ordinary iron column at tllie streetintersection while the signal Sat D is intended to show a column on a concrete base. A main station 14is connected to these various signals by wiring 15 and at 16 isillustrated a fire alarm station, the alarm box being indicated atvarious points' as 17. It is to be understood that this view'is sim@plyto illustrate the ygeneral layout and the w1r1ng 15 is of generalcharacter, no attempt being made to show definitely the variousapparatus connected therewith.

Each signal preferably comprises a lantern body or casing 18, seeFigures 2, 3 and 4,' This lantern body or casing is four sided and hason each side a series of three vertically spaced openings 19 carryingcolored lenses. Preferably the one lens 20 is of green glass' the centerlens 21 is yellow and the other lens 22 is red, each lens beingprotected by a suitable hood 23. These lanterns 'may either be supportedon posts orcolumns 24 or the lantern may be provided with suspensionmeans for hanging from the wires at the intersections pf the streets. Atthe lower part of each lantern is a bell 26. Naturally illuminatingmeans will be provided for each set of lenses and it will be obviousthat the case 18 must be divided by suitable partitions 27 to preventlight from one bulb reaching other lenses than that proper to that bulb.Suitably supported within the bell by frames 27, attached to the casing18 in a manner not deemed necessary to be shown in detail, is anindependent pair of magnets 28 each having an armature 29 carrying aplunger or striker 30 which passes through a guide sleeve 31 on theframe. These plungers act as clappers and the duplication serves toensure clear sounding of Lthe bell even if current be used.

While this special form of bell has been alternating shown other formsmay also be used in connection with the wiring system now to bedescribed.

Referring to Figure 6 it will be noted that there isprovided a pair ofline wires 32 and 33, the wire 32 being the feed wire and the wire 33being the return wire. From the wire 32 extends three branches 34, 35and 36 each leading to the armature 37 of a respective relay having amagnet winding 38, one end of the winding of the respective magnet beingconnected by a branch Wire.

39 with a respective branch from the wire 32. rlhese relays areconnected respectively by wires 40, 41 and 42 Fig. 6 with the terminals43 of a triple pole, double throw switch having switch arms 44engageable in one position with contacts numbered respectively as 45, 46and 47. From these contacts extend the respective wires 48, 49 and 50which terminate at the contact arcs 51, 52 and 53 of a switch having anarm 54 arranged to traverse these arcs. From the pivot point of arm 54,a wire 55 extends to an ordinary single pole cut out switch 56, thisswitch being connected by wire 57 with the wire 33. In this diagramthelamps or bulbs for t-he respective lenses 20, 21 and 22 are shownrespectively at 58, 59 and. 60, the bell being indicated at 26 as usual.Each armature 37 is arranged to engage a contact, 61 and from therespective contacts 61 lead respective wires 62, 63, and 64, these wiresconnecting with the lamps 58, 59 and 60. Also branching from the wire 64is a wire 65 which connects with the bell 26, a common return wire 66being connected in multiple to all three lamps and leading to the wire33. As will be obvious the wires 62 to 65 may be branched at variouspoints so that more than one signal may be displayed at a time but it isnot regarded necessary to here describe each of these branches byseparate numbers since the action is the same in all cases and thereforethe branch wires have been shown, in this diagram, numbered the same asthe wires leading directly from the several'relays just described.However,

'it will alsovbe obvious that if a circuit be established through oneelectric lamp at each signal the corresponding lamps and bulbs at theother signals being connected in multiple to the respective wires 62,63, 64 and 65,-will also be simultaneously energized.

tact 52, arm 54, wire 55, switch 56, wire 57 v to wire 33. This willcause closing of the relay fed by the wire 35 so that now a circuit willbe established from the wire 32, through wire 35, respective armature37, respective contact 61, wire 63, lamp 59, and simultaneously the bell26, and wire 66, back to wire 33. rlhus in this position the central oryellow lights and bells of the -various signals will operate. Now, byshifting the arm 54 to Contact 51 or 53 a similar circuit may be tracedthrough the respective lamps 58 and 60. Thus the shifting of the arm 54controls l the display of colored lights in all the signals connected tothe circuit and at the same time may, when desired, give the audiblesignal through the energization into bell 26.

rlhe system just described is intended for manual operation by the shiftof the arm 54 but provision is also made for automatic operation, thatisto say the .three colors of lamps may be arranged for automaticdisplay one after the other without manual intervention. To this endthere is provided a motor 67 Fig. 6 connected by a belt 68 and otherreducing gearing to a contact shaft or drum 70. This 'contact shaft ordrum is provided with the usual and 'common construction of Contactrings and disks. These contact disks are, as is common in such devicesprovided with insulating segments as shown in Figure 13 and are arrangedat different positions on the drum so that the ordinary brushes makecontact therewith at different times. Such an arrangement of commoncharacter is illustrated in Figure 13 as well as in Figure 6. It will benoted that in both Figures 6 and 13 there are shown three disks 71, 72and 73 arranged with their insulation spaced at 120 degrees andextending around two-thirds of the disk. It will be obvious that thisarrangement is not essential but the contact portions of the variousdisks may be varied to suit the particular case.

Also there are two contact rings 74 which are engaged by brushes 75connect'd by wire 76. The rings 71, 72 and 73 are engaged by respectivebrushes 77, 78 and 79 from which lea-d wires 80, 81 and 82, these wiresterminating at respective contacts 83, 84 and 85 positioned to beengaged by the switch arms leads a wire 88 which may connect directlywith the wire 33 but which is shown as terminating in a contact 89engaged by a contact arm 90, which is connected by wire 91 with anordinary single pole' switch 92, the latter being connected by wire 93with the wire 33. The purpose of this particular method of ruiming thesewires will be understood when the alarm arrangement part' of theinvention is described.

`Now, under lthese conditions when the automatic apparatus is desired tobe brought into play the switch'arms 44 are shifted to the contacts 83,84 and 85. Then it will be seen that, as the shaft revolves the relaysto which the wires 34, 35, and 36 lead will be closed in succession, twoof the relays being always open and the I,other closed. Now consider theconditions as shown in Figure 13. It will be observed that with theswitch thrown as described, current will How from the wire 32, over thewire 34, through the respective magnet 38, wire 40, switch arm 44,contact 83, wire 82, contact disk 73, shaft 70, contact ring 86, wire88, contact 89, contact 90, wire 91, switch 92, wire 93 and back to wire33. This, of course, will close the relay feed by the wire` 34 and thusa circuit i r will be established for the wire 32, through wire 34,armature 37, contact 61, wire 62, lamp 58 wire 66, back to the wire 33.As the shaft 70 revolves the other contact disks are successivelybrought into play.

The tire alarm operation of the system is controlled by a lmagnet 94which is in circuit with an ordinary Gamewell lire alarm station throughwires 101. This magnet 94 has an armature 102 which. through certainmechanism, hereafter described, shifts the contact arm 90 fromengagement "with the contact 89 into engagement with a contact 97connected by a wire 98 with the wire 80. The mechanism interposedbetween the armature lever 102 and the contact 90 may be of suchcharacter, as will be presently understood, as to effect intermittentoperation of the contact arm 90. However, we may suppose for thepurpose'oi:l understanding this feature of the apparatus, that there isan ordinary link connection between the armature 102 and arm 90 so that,as the armature is attracted by the the circuit from the wire 32, wire35, armature 37, Contact 61, wires 63 and 65, lamp 59 and bell 26, wire66 and back to the wire 33. Thus, so long as the arm 90 engages thecontact 97 the yellow lamp will be lit and the bell ring in each signal.At the same time by reason of contact being broken between arm 90 andthe contact 89 the automatic light shifting apparatus will be disengagedso that current will not flow through the wire 88 and consequently, thelamps 58 and 60 will remain unlit so long as the fire alarm is beingsent through. This will indicate that the tratic must stop in bothdirections.

In some instances it-may be desired to out in or cut out certain signalsand to that end relays 98 may be employed obtaining detail butillustrated in the patent to Game` Well 273,033. The magnet is providedwith an armature 102 which lis carried by an arm 103 pivoted at 104 andnormally held away from the magnet by a spring 105. This arm 103 hasextending therefrom arms 106 and 107 which form a fork. On the arm 106is a pin 108 which normally rests in the angulared portion 109 of alever 110. Upon energization of the magnet 94 the armature 102 isattracted, the pin 108 released from its engagement with the lever 110and this lever, as will be presently described, is pulled over by aspring 111 so that the spring drops into a notch 112. The lever 110 ispivoted at 113 and one arm of this leverl is providedy with a pivot 114Whereon is supported a cam 115 having an arm 116 extending therefrom andnormally engaging a pin 117 on the arm 106. The pin 117 is so positionedthat the releasing of the lever 110 from the pin 108 frees the arm 116and its cam and this lever thereupon is moved around to the dotted lineposition of Figure 7 by an ordinary spring motor not shown. As thismovement takes place the engagement of the cam with the arm 107 restoresarm 103 to normal position. Carried by this cam is a link 118 whichmoves through a sleeve 119 and engages the arm 120 Fig. 8 of a bentlever pivoted to a base 121 at 122 and having a second arm 123. The arm123 constltutes an escapement device and is provided with a pair ofpallets 124 Fig. 9 for operating as an ordinary anchor escapement withrespect to certain pins 125 projecting laterly from the periphery of awheel 126. This Wheel is carried `on a shaft 127 and is operated by aspring motor conventionally shown in Fig. 7 at 127 and on its shaft is agear 128l Whereon meshes a rack 129. Pivoted to the base 121 is an arm130 to which one end oi' the rack bar 129 is connected a rod 129 extendsfrom an arm 129 rigid With arm 130 and is connected to the springcontact arm 90, Fig. 7. At 131 is a support extending upwardly from thebase 121 and this support carries at its upper end a plate 132vvheretlirough the bar 129 passes. A spring 133 positioned between theplate 132 and the arm 130 urges the arm to the left of Figure 8, As isWell known, when ai'ire alarm is turned in from a Gamewell lire alarmbox, at least four impulses, generally more, will be necessary for theoliicer at the central sta-tion to locate the boi: from which the alarmcame.l ln my apparatus, therefore, there will always be four ormoreimpulses sent through the magnet 9a and the Wheel 126 will turn atleast :tour steps under the conf trol of the pallets 12a. 7Fhis willmove the rack bar 129 at least four steps which Will always besuiiicient to move the arm 90 over into contact with the contact 89,Fig. 7, thus cutting out the automatically operated red and green lightsand cutting in continuous lights and bells. After the tire, the bar 129,Fig. 8, is restored in any convenient Way by an attendant, thuspermitting the arm 90 to assume its normal position for makingconnection to automatically operate the red and green lightsalternately. This arm 130 is the arm that controls the operation of thearm 90 as Will be seendoy reference to Figure 8. Accordinglyenergization of the magnet 94 causes the cutting od' of the ordinarycircuit and the turning on of the re alarm circuit.

There has thus' been provided a simple and eiiicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

1t is obvious that minor changes may be 'made in the form andconstruction of the means for automatically cutting out all eX-.

cept the stop signal and for operating said stop signal at said crossingstation as a hre Warning, said electrically operated means beingconnected with a city re alarm circuit properly come and automaticallyactuated by impulses imposed upon said circuit by the turning in of alire alarm, whereby a. continuous Warning signal during the period ofthe lire alarm is automatically operated by said fire alarm circuit andis substituted in place of the said periodic and successive changes ofsignals during the normal operation of said crossing signal station. f i

2. A traliic control system, including a plurality .of crossing signalstations, eachv including an electric stop and go signal, means forautomatically operating the signals at all said stations .periodicallyand successively for normally controlling street tral'lic, andelectrically operated means for automatically cutting out all except thestop signals and for operating continuously the stop signals at all saidcrossing stations as a re Warning, said electrically operated cut outmeans being connected with a city lire alarm circuit, and automaticallyactuated by impulses imposed upon said circuit by turning in of a lirealarm, whereby a continuous Warning signal is automatically operated bysaid lire alarm circuit and is substituted in place of said periodic andsuccessive changes aey of signals during the normal operation of saidcrossing signal stations.

1n testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY @ARRETE

